Containment

The newly constructed Arkun Dam hydropower facility on the Çoruh River (Turkey) would have been considerably more expensive if conventional concrete walls were used along the edges of the power station. NAUE Geosynthetics profiles the project and the reinforced earth option that was selected and which saved 40% on the cost for this portion of the project.

Bernama has published a story on NAUE's new Bentofix plant in Selangor, Malaysia. The Malaysian Minister of Works, Datuk Shaziman, officiated the opening ceremony. Learn more here.;

The White Sulphur Springs Fish Hatchery in West Virginia has been awarded $500,000 for mussel propagation research. Learn more here.;

By Low & Bonar – CEPRO a.s., a government-owned major distributor of crude oil in the Czech Republic chose to build a large-capacity underground storage facility in Loukov to...

British Columbia Parks was seeking a permanent environmental solution to protect from ongoing wave erosion along the Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park shoreline located across from Nanaimo, B.C. The island is only accessible by boat so a solution that minimized the need for heavy equipment and material was needed. A DeltaLok system was installed. Read more from Canadian Environmental Protection (CEP). Learn more here.;

The World Bank has released its African Development Indicators 2007. The report finds that the continent has grown on pace with the rest of the world - 4.5 percent. Much of Africa, it seems, is turning the corner. Sustaining growth is key. That will require investment in infrastructure, environment, agriculture and more. Download the report in PDF here. Learn more here.;

Du Toit Viljoen has retired from his years of work at South Africa-based Engineered Linings. Contacts for Engineered Linings are Marketing and Technical Director Peter Hardie (peterh@englining.co.za) and new Managing Director Dave Roy (droy@englining.co.za). Colleagues wishing to contact Du Toit privately may reach him through his new e-mail address, dutvil@gmail.com. We congratulate him on his retirement and trust we'll see him soon enough in his travels or perhaps at an IGS event. Learn more here.;

One of the world’s most active chapters of the International Geosynthetics Society was created 20 years ago. This year, when IGS Brasil members gather for the chapter’s annual meeting,...

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) will hold its 2012 Design-Build for Water/Wastewater conference and exhibition in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area 23-25 April 2012. The conference has grown steadily in recent years, including record attendance in 2011. DBIA is accepting abstracts for presentations through 10 October 2011. Visit the Call for Presentations page on the event website and submit your proposal online. Learn more here.;

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has announced major revisions to its standard ANSI/AWWA D130-11, AWWA Standard for Geomembrane Materials for Potable Water Applications. This standard pertains to geomembrane materials supplied in sheet form for lining, covering, or lining and covering potable water reservoirs. The standard includes requirements for material properties, fabrication, and installation. Major revisions include an updated title, updated definitions, new repair information, and changes to a quality control testing table. Comments on the revision are sought through 17 June 2011. Learn more here.;

A 22 July 2010 slip opinion Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York finds that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation did not make an error in approving the extension of operations at a CWM Chemical Services hazardous waste landfill (RMU-1) in Niagara County. Part of the dispute has surrounded the permitted use of a geosynthetic clay liner in site capping plans versus a much thicker compacted clay liner. (The GCL enabled waste capacity to be increased by 106,870 cubic yards.) In the opinion, Judge John Lahtinen writes, "DEC determined, and the record supports, that a GCL cover affords better protection, thus having a positive environmental impact. The agency also noted that allowing the GCL cover would decrease the truck traffic that otherwise would have been necessary to deliver clay for a GCL cover." Learn more here.;

The American Public Works Association (APWA) offers an extensive series of professional development webinars and webcasts. On January 18 and 19, the association is rebroadcasting three of its most recent and most popular events: the three-part study guide towards the Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector exam and Stormwater Manager certification. Learn more.

During the recent CQA Week events at TRI/Environmental's campus in Austin, Texas, two days were given to the T-CLIC geoelectric Liner Integrity Survey and Assessment (LISA) course, which combines both classroom and practical, hands-on field training in on-site test cells. The course saw a very eclectic, enthusiastic, and international group learn about locating leaks in geomembrane lining systems. Participants came from South Africa (2), Portugal, and Peru, as well as North America. Installers, engineers, and construction quality assurance (CQA) firms were represented. In a new development for the course, instructor Ian D. Peggs (I-CORP INTERNATIONAL) was supported by Abigail Beck of Ausenco Vector. Ms. Beck presented segments on development of LISA as a business, liner design considerations, case histories and defects found, and future directions. Rich Lacey (TRI) presented the segment on Electricity 101. Read more.

AquaBlok, Ltd., a manufacture of innovative clay-based composite materials, is pleased to announce distributor agreements with A.S.P. Enterprises, Inc. (Fenton, MO), Brock White Construction Materials (St. Paul, MN), HD Supply Waterworks (Thomasville, GA) and Sunshine Supplies, Inc. (Birmingham, AL). Each is now physically warehousing AquaBlok® products to service a broad range of water sealing and geotechnical applications.

Organizers for the Canadian Geotechnical Society's (CGS) 67th Canadian Geotechnical Conference have extended the abstract submission window to January 31. GeoRegina 2014 (www.georegina2014.ca) will be held 28 September -...

By GSE Environmental - This technical note focuses on CCR closure and post-closure care for facilities closing with the coal combustion residual waste remaining in place. In the United...

As reported two weeks ago, organizers for GéoMontréal 2013 have extended the deadline for submission of abstracts to February 1. All interested participants in this event are strongly encouraged to submit their abstracts immediately. The conference will be held at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada 29 September – 3 October 2013. Organized by the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS) in collaboration with the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH/CNC) and the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), GeoMontreal provides an exceptional opportunity to interact with the entire North American geotechnical community. The geosynthetics field should play a strong role in this 66th Canadian Geotechnical Conference. The theme "Geoscience for Sustainability" ties in with much of the current research and marketing of geosynthetic materials.

We have reported here a number of times about the promise of agriculture and aquaculture in Vietnam. The other side of that development, however, is the runoff and pollution that results. In the Mekong Delta, agricultural fertilizer is used at a much higher rate than needed; and aquaculture hectares have increased from 20,000 to 70,000 in a very short time without an accommodating expansion in filtration and pollution controls. Learn more here.;

The village of Sabina and the Ohio EPA have reached an agreement that’s meant to help the town meet its obligations under the Clean Water Act and eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) by the summer of 2013. Extensive sewer liner installations have been completed, a small fine will be paid, and various projects have been agreed upon. Since 2006, has used geotextile bags for sludge dewatering. This process has assisted the village significantly in reaching its goals. Learn more here.;

The International Geosynthetics Society is dedicated to promoting the awareness and proper utilization of geosynthetic technologies in infrastructure. In support of its mission and backed by its 4000+ global...

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a guidance document describing approaches that can help communities explore adaptive, innovative stormwater management techniques. The guide, "Green Infrastructure in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates," provides many environmental, social, and economic benefits of green infrastructure in order to reduce runoff, conserve water, recharge groundwater, conserve energy and improve air quality in water-limited areas. Learn more here.;

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) Indian Chapter (IGS India) has announced the publication of Volume 1, Issue 2 of the Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement. This issue includes articles on "Comparative Study on the Performance of Piled Embankments with and without the Geosynthetic Reinforcement," "Evaluation of the Performance of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Walls Using a Geocentrifuge," and "A Case Study on the Use of Coir Geotextiles for Stabilizing a Steep Slope." Additionally, updates on forthcoming events and opportunities are included. The journal is distributed for free to IGS members, who also enjoy full access electronically to other international journals on geosynthetics. Join today. Learn more here.;

Our bi-weekly update on calls for papers, abstracts and proposals is posted. This issue includes Cooperation for Waste Issues, a Kharkiv, Ukraine event for which geosynthetica is a media partner. Events are listed in ordered of closest deadlines.

India-based publication MasterBuilder has released a special issue on geosynthetics in the world's largest democracy. Artilces from Ian Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, Lance Carter of Strata Systems, and many others are included. Subjects covered include high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes, geogrid soil reinforcement, geotextile applications (e.g., road construction), landfills, waterproofing, and more. Read the electronic version of the magazine. Learn more here.;

On Tuesday, a crowd of Renfrew County officials, industry representatives, and municipal councils from across Ontario and beyond gathered at the Eganville Sewage Treatment Plant to watch as one of the 50-foot long Geotubes, the heart of the municipality's state-of-the-art biosolids facility, was opened a year after it had been filled to capacity. The revamped dewatering facility consists of six 50-foot Geotube units, a greenhouse and a pumping station linked with the plant. Learn more here.;